Improved covering- tor steps



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CHARLESE. KEMP ANI) JOSEPH N. PATTISON,

' PENNSYLVANIA.

OF PHILADELPHIA,

Letters Patent No. 98,978, dated January 18, 1870.

IMPRQVED COVRING- FOR STEPS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent: and making part of the same.

We,-GHARLEs E. KEMP and JOSEPH N. PA'r'risoN, both of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvedr Covering for Steps, of which the following is a specification.

Nature and Object of 7i-@Invention l Our invention consists'in certain wooden treads and risers, so hinged together as to form a cover, which can be readily adj usted to stone, marble, or iron steps during the winter-season, and readily removed therefrom, folded, and stored away, for the next season.

Our invention further consists in the combination, with the foregoing, of certain side wings or braces.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our vimproved wooden cover for marble, stone, or metal steps;

Figure 2, a perspective view of the same, folded; and

Figure 3, a transverse section ofthe cover, as it appears when adjusted to astep. V

General Description.

The ordinary wooden covers which are used for marble, stone, or iron steps, during the winter-season, consist of treads and risers, suitably braced at the ends and fitted over the steps, the whole being nailed rigidlyftogether. This cover, when det-ached from the steps, is exceedingly bulky and unwieldy, and must be taken apart in order to l'educe it to a suiciently-portable shape to be removed andl stored away for the fo1- lowing season. In addition to thseinconvenience, the expense 'of hiring a carpenter must be incurred each time the cover is taken eti or reiitted to the steps.

These objections we have overcome, by so hiuging the treads and risers together, that they can be iitted to the steps, and can be readily removed from the same and folded into a s mall compass. For instance,

lin the drawing, A A A, Ste., represent the risers, and

B B' B', 85e., the treads of the improved step-covering, the upper tread B, which rests upon the top step, being wider than the others.

These treads and risers are hinged together at a a, so that they can either be extended to a position at right vangles to each other, as shown in figs. 1 and 3, or

folded compact-ly together, as seen in tig. 2.

When extended and fitted over the steps, the covering is rendered perfectly rigid, by means of wings C, one. of which is hinged to each end of each tread, and furnished with a hook or other fastening, b, by means of which it may be secured to the adjacent riser A.

These wings, it will be observed, on reference to figs. 1 and 3, occupy the entire angle between the tread and riser, and take away, or considerably reduce the strain upon the hinges a, if the cover should not be fitted with perfect accuracy to the steps.

The cover shown in the drawing, is intended to be used for a single set of steps; but in the case of adjoining steps, with a division-strip between them, the wings C', on the side adjacent to the division-strip, must either be hinged to the upper sides of the treads, as indicated by dotted lines in iig. 3, or else be dispensed with altogether.

The improved cover, when adjusted to the steps, should'be secured to the same, or to the adjacent wood-work, but in such a manner as to be readily detached therefrom.

Claims.

1. As a covering for steps, treads and risers, hinged together and arranged for adjustment to the step, substantially as described. v

2. The combination of the step-treads and risers, and the side wings O, hinged to the treads or risers, substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. KEMP. JOSEPH N. PATTISON.

Vitnesses:

WM. A. STEEL, Louis BoswELL. 

